Rules for Determining Degrees of Christian Virtue

To determine the various degrees of virtue in our present condition, when we must still “struggle against sin,” (Heb. 12:4) the following rules can be established: our virtue is the more perfect: 1) the purer our motives by which we strive to keep God’s law. Those who act from fear of punishment are below those who act from hope of eternal bliss. The most perfect virtue is found in those who do all things to the glory of God in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; 2) the greater willingness with which we keep God’s law and the more difficult this is for us either inwardly in the state of our spirit or outwardly in our circumstances. One is accompanied by approval and attention from others, another is not spared mockery and oppression; one’s passions greatly trouble him, another experiences them as light movements, and so forth. The widow who brought her last two coins into the temple brought, according to the Lord’s words, the richest gift compared to those who gave “from their abundance.” (Lk. 21:1–4); 3) the wider the circle of our good activity, that is, when we strive in all things to act in accordance with God’s law, rather than limiting ourselves to keeping only certain commandments, remembering the Apostle’s words: “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it,” (Jas. 2:10). Finally: 4) the more steadfast our zeal in keeping God’s law, the more courageously we overcome all temptations that draw toward sin. Those are very weak in faith who “believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away” from faith (Lk. 8:13).